title: The protective effect of geniposide on human neuroblastoma cells in the presence of formaldehyde.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Formaldehyde can induce misfolding and aggregation of Tau protein and β amyloid protein, which are characteristic pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). An increase in endogenous formaldehyde concentration in the brain is closely related to dementia in aging people. Therefore, the discovery of effective drugs to counteract the adverse impact of formaldehyde on neuronal cells is beneficial for the development of appropriate treatments for age-associated cognitive decline.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we assessed the neuroprotective properties of TongLuoJiuNao (TLJN), a traditional Chinese medicine preparation, against formaldehyde stress in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y cell line). The effect of TLJN and its main ingredients (geniposide and ginsenoside Rg1) on cell viability, apoptosis, intracellular antioxidant activity and the expression of apoptotic-related genes in the presence of formaldehyde were monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cell counting studies showed that in the presence of TLJN, the viability of formaldehyde-treated SH-SY5Y cells significantly recovered. Laser scanning confocal microscopy revealed that the morphology of formaldehyde-injured cells was rescued by TLJN and geniposide, an effective ingredient of TLJN. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of geniposide on formaldehyde-induced apoptosis was dose-dependent. The activity of intracellular antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) increased, as did mRNA and protein levels of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 after the addition of geniposide. In contrast, the expression of the apoptotic-related gene - P53, apoptotic executer - caspase 3 and apoptotic initiator - caspase 9 were downregulated after geniposide treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that geniposide can protect SH-SY5Y cells against formaldehyde stress through modulating the expression of Bcl-2, P53, caspase 3 and caspase 9, and by increasing the activity of intracellular superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase.
authors.affiliation: School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 11 Bei San Huan Dong Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jin-yan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Meng-ru
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wei-chuan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.forename: Kai-li
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan-yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rong-qiao
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hua
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D039823:Iridoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D039823:Iridoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C007835:geniposide; D005557:Formaldehyde; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9